Mazel tov to Norma Sacks and Sandy Warren, who were jointly honored last month as the 2014 recipients of the Candy Coonerty Woman of Valor Award. The annual award was founded 13 years ago in memory of Candy Coonerty, late co-owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz and past president of Temple Beth El, and honors Jewish women who enrich the Santa Cruz community through their service.

After earning an master's in family counseling, Sacks began working as the bereavement coordinator at the Hospice of Santa Cruz County, where she founded programs such as the school-based HUG Program for children experiencing loss. She's also served on many community boards including Planned Parenthood, the Museum of Art and History, Hadassah, Hillel and AIPAC. Her current favorite volunteer work is pet therapy with her dog at Dominican's Restorative Care Unit and in the Santa Cruz Library Tales to Tails program.

Warren served for many years on the board of Hadassah, including several years as treasurer and as president. In 2012 she served as a delegate to the Centennial Convention in Jerusalem and is now on the Central Pacific Coast Region Board of Hadassah. She also works with the League of Women Voters and the Santa Cruz Literacy Program.

Imagination Movers

Students at Live Oak Elementary can get their imaginations and bodies moving on the playground now, thanks to some new equipment. The school was one of four nationwide that was recognized for having the most votes for Imagination Playground equipment, mobile play sets made of oversized foam blocks that can be assembled inside or outside.

The school was awarded the equipment through a program sponsored by Merck Consumer Care, the makers of Children's Claritin and national nonprofit KaBOOM! to help bring innovative play spaces to schools in need.

Fashion that pays

Daisy Auxiliary members Karen Moore and Elaine Carrigan presented a $30,532.33 check to David Bianchi, executive director of Family Service Agency of the Central Coast, during the auxiliary's spring luncheon, held March 13 at Severino's. Bianchi accepted the check, representing proceeds from the Auxiliary's 2013 fashion show fundraiser, on behalf of all the clients at the agency.

The Helen Ackerman Award for 25 years of continuous service was given to Mary Rose Hellenthal and Carol Paarman.

The 2014 Holidaisy event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Paradox Hotel in Santa Cruz. The theme will be "Holidaisy Celebrates Monte Carlo."

Bunco for bucks

It was an evening of fun as Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a local, state, national and international organization, held a recent Bunco event, raking in about $2,500.

The money goes toward scholarships through STARS, a UC Santa Cruz re-entry program for women seeking careers working with children in an educational setting, and a program supporting new teachers and other educational enrichment projects in the county affecting children over the years.